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Job outlook for clinical medical assistants in the United States
Clinical medical assistant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected clinical medical assistant job growth rate is 16% from 2018-2028.
About 117,800 new jobs for clinical medical assistants are projected over the next decade.
Clinical medical assistant salaries have increased 14% for clinical medical assistants in the last 5 years.
There are over 655,705 clinical medical assistants currently employed in the United States.
There are 233,464 active clinical medical assistant job openings in the US.
The average clinical medical assistant salary is $37,052.
Are clinical medical assistant jobs in demand?
Clinical medical assistant job and salary trends over time
Clinical medical assistant jobs over time
Clinical medical assistant job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 655,705 | 0.19% |
| 2020 | 639,883 | 0.19% |
| 2019 | 641,892 | 0.19% |
| 2018 | 606,961 | 0.18% |
| 2017 | 582,328 | 0.18% |
Average clinical medical assistant salary over time
Clinical medical assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $37,052 | $17.81 | +3.0% |
| 2025 | $35,967 | $17.29 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $34,737 | $16.70 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | $33,569 | $16.14 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | $32,598 | $15.67 | +3.1% |
Clinical medical assistant jobs by state
Most common states for clinical medical assistants
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 864 | 64% |
| 2 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 3,492 | 63% |
| 3 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 845 | 63% |
| 4 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 498 | 57% |
| 5 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 394 | 57% |
| 6 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 530 | 50% |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 3,261 | 48% |
| 8 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 1,374 | 47% |
| 9 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 908 | 47% |
| 10 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 349 | 46% |
| 11 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 2,906 | 44% |
| 12 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 776 | 43% |
| 13 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 3,077 | 42% |
| 14 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 1,473 | 41% |
| 15 | Delaware | 961,939 | 394 | 41% |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 5,105 | 40% |
| 17 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 423 | 40% |
| 18 | Vermont | 623,657 | 250 | 40% |
| 19 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 4,446 | 38% |
| 20 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 2,321 | 38% |
Most common cities for clinical medical assistants
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa City | 25 | 34% | $36,123 |
| 2 | Pinellas Park | 12 | 23% | $31,739 |
| 3 | Clearwater | 12 | 10% | $31,763 |
| 4 | Largo | 7 | 8% | $31,756 |
| 5 | Loveland | 5 | 7% | $37,983 |
| 6 | Saint Paul | 18 | 6% | $36,817 |
| 7 | Fargo | 6 | 5% | $35,479 |
| 8 | Minneapolis | 17 | 4% | $36,816 |
| 9 | Sioux Falls | 7 | 4% | $33,378 |
| 10 | Urban Honolulu | 8 | 2% | $46,793 |
| 11 | Saint Petersburg | 6 | 2% | $31,724 |
| 12 | Glendale | 5 | 2% | $38,994 |
| 13 | San Antonio | 11 | 1% | $33,211 |
| 14 | Las Vegas | 6 | 1% | $37,590 |
| 15 | Boston | 5 | 1% | $41,367 |
| 16 | Mesa | 5 | 1% | $38,835 |
| 17 | Chicago | 7 | 0% | $40,297 |
| 18 | Los Angeles | 5 | 0% | $47,050 |
Clinical Medical Assistant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of clinical medical assistant experts
Midstate College
Pennsylvania State University - Hazleton
Bellevue College
Farmingdale State College
Daniela Taranto
What Clinical Medical Assistant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Daniela Taranto: Post Covid-19 dental professions have seen a jump in salaries in my opinion. During Covid there was a sense of many leaving the profession, and post it seems that dental professional jobs have consistently been in high demand. The hours are often flexible, with many full and part-time options, evenings, or weekends. The flexibility is great for college students and parents as well. Becoming a dental assistant is a great career path for those considering any career in the dental field. It can be a steppingstone and exposure to other professions such as dentist, dental specialist, dental hygienists. as well as insurance, dental coding, and administrative positions.
What will help Clinical Medical Assistants increase their earning potential?
Daniela Taranto: A Dental Assistants responsibility can vary by state, or by certifications earned. But in general, they include preparing dental operatories for a wide range of dental procedures including Composite restorations (fillings), Endodontic procedures (root canals), surgical procedures including extractions and dental implants, Periodontal procedures including dental cleanings, and deeper scaling and root planing, Prosthetic/Cosmetic dental work including crowns, bridges, dentures, or cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening or veneers. Once the DA has prepared the operatory, they stay and work directly with the dentist using four-handed dentistry to facilitate an efficient and effective workflow. In addition to having extensive knowledge on these procedures and their armamentaria, DA's are often responsible for adhering to a high level of infection control procedures. Preparing instruments for sterilization and operating the varying machines that are used to achieve that is also part of the DAs daily responsibilities. Furthermore, dental assistants are also trained in a variety of dental materials. They can mix and prepare cements, alginates, and other impression materials. New technology offers dental assistants to obtain digital scans of patients' oral cavity as well. They can work in and are needed in all dental practices. The occupation of a DA offers the option to make a career out of it by earning additional certifications for expanded functions, or use it as a steppingstone towards a career in dental hygiene, or dentistry. Other responsibilities can include front desk work as well, scheduling appointments, answering phones, and other administrative tasks. The role of the dental assistant is vital to successful dental practices.
What general advice would you give to a Clinical Medical Assistant?
Candace Keck: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of medical assistants is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations. This positive job outlook ensures future job opportunities and career stability.
What Clinical Medical Assistant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Candace Keck: Depending on the area where the medical assistant works, such as clinic vs hospital vs care facilities, the day-to-day duties can vary. The commonality, no matter the location, is they work closely with providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurses, to name a few) and other healthcare professionals to deliver patient care. It can involve direct patient care and administrative work. They need to have strong communication skills, attention to detail, and a compassionate approach to patient care.
What will help Clinical Medical Assistants increase their earning potential?
Candace Keck: I don't have an answer to this question. I'm not scheduled to work in the hospital any time soon so would not have the opportunity to ask.
Jeanne Martin PhD, MSN, RN, CNE
Clinical Associate ProfessorWhat will help Clinical Medical Assistants increase their earning potential?
Jeanne Martin PhD, MSN, RN, CNE: I think honing clinical judgment is the KEY to safe patient care. A lack of clinical judgment competency is associated with preventable nursing errors, such as medication inaccuracies or failure to recognize a patient is deteriorating and then step in to rescue that patient. These errors are more prevalent in new graduate nurses. This is why the National Council State Board of Nursing changed the licensure exam to reflect the Clinical Judgment Model. As the complexities of health care expand, the clinical judgment of the nurse must expand with it.
What general advice would you give to a Clinical Medical Assistant?
Eve Leija AAS, NCMA: To maximize salary for a medical assistant obtaining certification from one of the credentialing organizations such as American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) can make a new hire more competitive. Continuing educations along with developing any specialized skills such as phlebotomy. Demonstrating professionalism initiative and reliability, along with gaining a strong reference from previous employers.
What Clinical Medical Assistant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Eve Leija AAS, NCMA: Flexibility is a must in healthcare. You must be flexible with your job functions, time and most importantly your patients. You must be able to pivot with little to no notice and be ready and wiling to assist anyone in your clinic; providers, co-workers, patients, etc.
What will help Clinical Medical Assistants increase their earning potential?
Eve Leija AAS, NCMA: To meet the demands of evolving healthcare and provide high-quality care to patients technological proficiency (EHR systems, Telehealth support), clinical skills (any skills that can enhance what you’ve learned in school. Phlebotomy, point of care testing devices), communication and soft skills (adaptability, problem-solving, empathy and compassion) are a must. I feel a lot of the younger generation lacks the soft skills needed in healthcare/professional jobs. Administrative skills and patient care and safety (infections control and chronic disease management).
What general advice would you give to a Clinical Medical Assistant?
Aaron Benitez CDA, RDA, RDHAP, MSDH: In California, it is an exciting time to be a Dental Assistant. The industry has been gradually adding more technologically advanced procedures like 3-D printing, intra-oral scanning, along with Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistance. A Dental Assistant needs to possess the traditional knowledge to be able to learn these new advanced procedures. In order to make themselves more competitive, the Dental Assistant must possess the knowledge and hands-on experience of these new procedures.
Also, since in California the minimum wage is increasing beyond the amount that a starting Dental Assistant could potentially earn, learning new advanced techniques is more relevant.
What Clinical Medical Assistant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Aaron Benitez CDA, RDA, RDHAP, MSDH: In the Dental Assisting program at West Los Angeles College, the advice that we give our students includes several topics. The main recommendation is to take the California's Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) exam. Other advice includes, creating a professional resume (cloud based and on paper), always be respectful of other's time and having a professional mindset. These are qualities that are timeless.
What general advice would you give to a Clinical Medical Assistant?
Janice Noteboom, MHA/Ed., CMA (AAMA): -LIKE- People who enjoy working as a Medical Assistant do it because they get a
great satisfaction from help other people. They are often the first contact with the
patient in the medical facility, which sets the tone for the rest of the visit.
They feel good making sure that their patients have the right information that they
need, the appropriate medical care they need, and helping patients feel better.
Good problem-solving skills, compassion, understanding, patience and keeping
up with a fast-paced office is very rewarding.
-DISLIKE- Some Medical Assistants have determined that there are
area/tasks/etc. that they dislike, listed below are some of these things:
You’re always around people who are sick
Long work hours can include 10 or 12-hour days
Lower starting salary, which is usually based on education and
experience level
Having to deal with stressful situations and difficult patients
Dealing with patients who are angry, cranky, anxious or not feeling well
Working under pressure from extremely tight deadlines
What will help Clinical Medical Assistants increase their earning potential?
Janice Noteboom, MHA/Ed., CMA (AAMA): Medical Assistants
have become a vital member to any health care team! Below are some specific
educational areas and training that a face-to-face or hybrid Medical Assistant
Program offers and what students will do on a daily basis (or during class and lab
sessions) that will help provide training quality assurance: (these are just some of
the areas of training and education that students will receive in an CAAHEP
(Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) accredited
Medical Assistant Program:
Interacting with patients
Hands-on training with hypodermic needles used for injections and
venipuncture
Using other medical equipment like the various thermometers, pulse
oximeter, EKG machine, nebulizer, etc.
Experience with scheduling/accounting/EMR software applications
Students learn and practice many clinical procedures like patient transfers,
wound care, disease transmission prevention, completion of various
requisitions for medical testing, emergency procedures, caring for adult
and pediatric patients, and much more.
Students also learn and practice Pharmacology procedures which include
medication administration, adult and pediatric medication dosing,
medication uses, side effects/adverse effects/toxicity/etc.
Laboratory Procedures allows students to learn and practice how to
perform Point-of-Care testing, venipuncture, laboratory testing results,
urinalysis, etc.
Finally, Students will complete a Medical Assistant Program Externship at
a medical office/hospital/urgent care/specialty clinic to practice the skills
and training in real life.
Jamie Myers
Education Program Associate, Allied Health CoordinatorPennsylvania State University - Hazleton
Continuing Education Department
What skills stand out on Clinical Medical Assistant resumes?
Jamie Myers: Bilingual, Phlebotomy, EKGs.
What soft skills should all Clinical Medical Assistants possess?
Jamie Myers: Critical thinking, problem-solving, dependability.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Clinical Medical Assistants?
Jamie Myers: Computer skills.
What skills will help Clinical Medical Assistants earn the most?
Jamie Myers: Bilingual, Phlebotomy, and Computer.
What skills stand out on Clinical Medical Assistant resumes?
Marina Orobinskaia: Experience, good program attended.
What skills will help Clinical Medical Assistants earn the most?
Marina Orobinskaia: Additional job training type certifications were added to the original Nursing Assistant, such as nursing delegation, phlebotomy, medication pass.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Clinical Medical Assistants?
Carol Donohue: Before the pandemic, the Bureau of Labor Statistics rated dental assisting as one of the fastest growing careers, and it has continued to increase as many dental assistants have left to stay home with young children or elderly parents/relatives. Most dental offices report that they are extremely busy and trying to catch up from the work that was put on hold due to the pandemic. At one point dental offices were only seeing emergencies only. As the medical field continues to expand, opportunities for stable employment in this rewarding industry are within reach
What will help Clinical Medical Assistants increase their earning potential?
Carol Donohue: Increasing earning potential can come from various avenues which range from being prepared from the interview, staying current with continuing education as dentistry is always evolving in areas such as infection control, dental materials and more. The more knowledge, training, and education dental assistants have, the more they can contribute to the practice as well, making dental assistants an integral part of any successful dental practice.